A grand slam by the Babson Beavers was ultimately the difference between them and the Southern Maine Huskies Thursday afternoon. Although they rallied with five unanswered runs, the Huskies fell 12-8 after nine innings of play. Southern Maine’s record drops to 18-9.

Babson picked up the lead early on in the matchup. In the top of the first inning Babson made it 2-0 when freshman Connor Gill (Sterling, MA/ Wachusett Regional) and sophomore Adam Ayala (Franklin Lakes, NJ/ Don Bosco Prep) rounded home plate for the Beavers.

The Beaver’s lead would extend to 3-0 in the third inning of play. Senior George Crowley (Watertown, MA/ The Rivers School) doubled in the frame, allowing freshman Eric Jaun (Loveland, Ohio/ St. Xavier) to score for Babson.

The fourth inning was a busy one for both teams. In the top, with three beavers on base, Mark Webber (Norwell, MA/Dexter School) came up to bat for Babson. Webber hammered it to right center for a grand slam to make it 7-0 for the Beavers. Jack Halpin (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury), Gill, and David Lennon (Windermere, FL/Windermere Prep) would all score for the Beavers. Delaney would get relief from Laberge after giving up seven runs.

. The bottom of the frame brought in three runs for Southern Maine. Tom Budrewicz (Boxford, MA/ Masconomet Regional) sent a line drive past first base driving in Paul McDonough (Wells, ME) for the Huskies first run of the day. Next up, freshman catcher Kip Richard picked up two RBI’s when he sent both senior Jake Glauser (Goffstown, NH/ Goffstown) and Budrewicz home to make it 7-3.

An inning later, Babson would extend their lead to 8-3 with a run from George Crowley off his teammate Jake Weiss’ (Irvine, CA/Northwood) single. The sixth inning was another multi-run inning for the Beavers. Including runs from Adam Ayala, Jack Haplin and Mark Webber. Senior Joe Barry (Stoneham, MA/Austin Prep) also picked up a run in the sixth inning to make it 12-3 for Babson.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Huskies picked up two runs to make it a seven run deficit of 12-5. Richard would have a hand in both runs scored in the sixth inning. He picked up an RBI off of Budrewicz’s run to make it 12-4. Later on Richard scored as Jake O’Connor tripled him home.

The Huskies would try and keep the momentum going when Paul McDonough picked up his first homer of the season during the bottom of the seventh inning, closing the margin to 12-6.

In the final attempt at a rally, Budrewicz doubled at the bottom of the ninth inning and picked up two RBI’s. He made it 12-8 as Sam Stauble (Harrison, ME/ Bridgton Academy) and Sam Dexter (Oakland, ME/ Messalonskee) ran home.

Sophomore Bobby Delaney (Merrick, NY/ Kellenberg Memorial) picked up his second start of the season for the Huskies. Delaney gave up seven runs on seven hits in four innings.

Freshman Tanner Laberge (Windham, ME/ Windham) relieved Delaney in the middle of the fourth inning. Laberge let up five runs and five hits in the two innings he played.

Freshman pitchers Henry Curran (South Portland, ME/ South Portland), Matt Correale (Peabody, MA/ Peabody), and Jack Donnelly (Walpole, MA/ Walpole) all came in for relief during the last three innings of the afternoon.

Babson’s pitcher, junior Ken Rutunno (East Islip, NY/ East Islip) gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings pitched. Edward Lehr (Byram Township, NJ/ Blair Academy), Max Tannenbaum (Coral Springs, FL/ North Broward Prep) and Matt Cuneo (Ashland, MA/ Dexter School) would all take their turns on the mound as well. Lehr would allow the Huskies one run and Cuneo gave up the last two.

The Huskies return home again Tuesday April 26 for conference matchup against UMass Boston at 3:30 p.m.